Die Schnellboot-Seite
Artillery of the S-Boats in the Bundesmarine
Hispano Suiza 20mm/L85 MDL
The først S-boats of the Bundemarine, the boats of "Silbermöwe"-clase (later designated as classe 149) were taken over in from the Royal Navy in 1956. The boats got the names "Silbermöwe" (ex "Silver Gull"), "Sturmmöwe" (ex "Storm Gull"), and "Wildschwan" (ex "Wild Swan") and were besides of handheld firearms totally unarmed. Boats FPB 5130 (ex "S 130") and FPB 5208 (ex S 208") likewize.
The boats tasken over from Bundesgrenzschutz See (BGS = borderpolice) on 01.071956 "S 1" ("Eismöwe") and "S 2" ("Raubmöwe") were armed with two guns Hispano Suizza 20mm/L85 on a double carrier, one on the superstructure behind the bridge and one on the quarterdeck. The boat "Seeschwalbe", which was under construction for BGS and was commissioned for the Bundesmarine on 16.04.1957 was armed in the same way.
The Hispano Suiza 20mm/L85 was a postwar development based upon the Hispano Suizza HS-404. The guns were produced under license by Rheinmetall and were constituting the main armament of the armoured personnel carrier HS 30 (Hotchkiss) with the designator MK-20-1.
Also the Hispano Suiza 20mm/L85 on double carriage for the boats of "Silbermöwe"-class were produced by Rheinmetall. They were firing ammunition with calibre 20 x 128 mm at a cadence of 800 to 1000 rounds/minute and a muzzle-speed of more than 1000 m/sec.
"Eismöwe" (ex "S 2" BGS) at Lürssen - Picture: Archives R. Bucher
Hispano Suiza 20mm/L85 MDL
Bofors 40mm/L70 MEL
Since for the boats of classes 140 ("Jaguar"-class) and 141 ("Seeadler"-class) two guns Bofors 40mm/L70 MEL were retrofitted with these guns to standardize the artillery-arms within the typecommand Kommando der Schnellboote. The two Hispano-Suiza-guns were substituted with one Bofors 40mm/L70 on the quarterdeck in 1957/58.
The boats of classes 140 and 141 got one Bofors 40mm/L70 forward and one on the quarterdeck.
Forward Gun Bofors 40mm(L70 MEL on S-"Kranich" - Picture: Archives K. Scheuch
The Bofors 40mm/L70 is a multipurpose-machinegun which was developed by the Swedish AB Bofors on the base of the Bofors 40mm/L60 of WW II.
Aft Gun Bofors 40mm/L70 on S-"Kranich - Picture: Archives K. Scheuch
The gun had a barrel-length of 2,8 m including muzzle-fire-damper and a calibre of 40 mm. The shells, 40 x 346 R with a weight of 870 g were fired at a cadence if 240 rounds/min and a muzzle-speed of 1000 m/sec. The maximum range was 12.600 m. The train-angle was 360 degrees and the elevation of - 10 to + 85 degrees.
Nife-Reflex-Sight - Picture: K. Scheuch
Each gun was equipped with two NIFE-Reflex sight for the two gunners (train and elevation).
The rounds were put together in clips for four rounds and placed into the ammunition-slot by the two loading-men ("Ladenummern"). In the aft end of the gun there were racks for 12 clips, i.e. 48 rounds.
The readiness-ammunition was kept in lockers under the forecastle respectively on the quarterdeck close to the guns.
The boats had two ammunition-compartments in which the rounds were stored in ammunition-chests.
While the guns on the boats of classes 140, 141, and 149 as well as later also the boats of class 142 had a roundabout splinter-protection-shield the boats of the minewarfareflotilla had an entry on both sides.
Bofors 40mm/L70 MEL on MS-"Weilheim" - Picture: T. Kunzmann
The guins could be directed and fired in close-control by the two gunners or by the artillery-controlpillar SE-40 and later the OGR-7/2.
Bofors 40mm/L70 MEL DSTY 58
With retrofitting of fire-contol-sytem WM-20 ot the Netherlands company Hollandse Sigaalapparaten (HSA) of the boats class 142 new guns directable by radarbecame necessary. The guns Bofors 40mm/L70 MEL DSTY 58 were installed. They were directed by the artillery-command-console of the weapon-direction-system as standard procedure. Manual control was possible as backup-procedure.
S-"Ozelot" with WM-20 System and new Guns and Torpedotubes - Picctuure: Archives K. Scheuch
Bofors 40mm/L70 MEL Mod. 71
The boats of class 148 ("Tiger"-class) were equipped with a gun Bofors 40mm/L70 MEL Mod. 71 on the quarterdeck, a gun directable by radar with a magazine that permitted a pre-load of 144 rounds.
Bofors 40mm/L70 MEL Mod. 71 on "S 41" - Picture: Archives B. Brackert
Magzine of the Bofors 40mm/L70 MRL Mod. 71 - Picture: Archives B. Brackert
For the gun Bofors 40mm/L70 MEL Mod. 71, originally developped by the Swedish AB Bofors, the carriers and the magazines were built under license of the Italian company Breda.
The gun was trainable with a speed of 85 degrees/sec. and could be elevated from -8 to bis +83 degrees at a speed of 45 degrees/sec. The cadence was 300 rounds/min. and the muzzle-speed was 1000 m/sec. The maximum-range was 12.600 m and the peak-hight was 8.700 m at maximum-elevation. The weight of a round was 2,5 kg, the weight of the bullet was 0,96 kg and the explosive load was of 0,115 kg.
"S 41" with the Original Bofors 40mm/L70 MEL Mod. 71 on the Quarterdeck - Foto: Archiv K. Scheuch
"S 46" with Bofors 40mm/L70 MEL Mod. 71 with Weathercupola - Picture: Archives K. Scheuch
Later the guns Bofors 40mm/L70 MEL Mod. 71 were equipped with a weather-protection-cupola by company Mauser.
Weather-Protection-Cupola of Bofors 40mm/L70 Mod. 71 - Picture: B. Brackert
Each gun was equipped with a Nife reflex-sight for the gunner. Inclusive the loading-personnel four men were needed as operators. The readiness-ammuniton was placed in a part of the aft superstructure.
Bofors 40mm/L70 Mod. 71 with Ammunition-Store - Picture: M. Rode
Bofors 40mm/L70 Mod. 71 - Picture: Archives B. Brackert
Readiness-Ammunition in the aft Superstructure - Picture: M. Rode
The gun could be directed and fired by the gunner in local control or by one of the two targetting-systems Askania-76 on B-deck behind the open bridge. After the targetting-systems were removed the remote control was performed by the sight of the POLLUX-firecontrolradar.
OTO-Melara 76mm/L62
With the boats of class 148 ("Tiger"-class) the gun OTO Melara 76 mm/L62 Compact af the Italian company Leonardo was introduced in the S-Boat-Flotilla, a gun which also was employed on S-boats of classes 143 und 143 A as well as on frigates of classes 122, 123, and 124.
The boats of class 148 had a gun OTO Melara 76mm/L62 on the forecastle, the boats of class 143 had a gun on the forecastle and one on the quarterdeck while the boats of class 143 A just had one gun on the forecastle.
The OTO Melara was a fully automatic and light gun which could be employed against air-, surfce- and landtargets. It had a cadence of 85 rounds/minute and had a magazine in the ammunition-compartment beneath the gun which contained 80 rounds. Reloading was performed by hand. The rounds had to be taken out of their plastic transport- and storage-containers and be placed in the loading-ring.
Magazine on Board of MTB "Sehested" - Picture: Archiv V. Groth
Contrary to newer versíons the gun had a roundish plastic-cupola as weather-protection. The gun had a weight of 7500 kg.
OTO Melara 76mm/L62 on the Forecastle of a Boat Class 148 - Picture: Archives K. Scheuch
Ejection of empty cartridges was performed under the barrel.
OTO Melara 76mm(L62 on "S 62" - Picture: Archives L. Brügge
For maintenance purposes the cupola had a manhole permitting access to the gun.
Manhole in the Cupola - Picture: Archives K. Scheuch
The gun was trainable 360 degrees at a speed of 60 degrees/sec. Elevation was possible from -15 to +83 degrees at a speed of 32 dgrees/sec.
On the boats of class 148 the gun could be directed optically and fired by the two aiming-pillars Askania-76. However, in praxis it was controlled by the scope of the POLLUX-firecontrolsystem and later of the CASTOR-firecontrolsystem in the Ops-room.
On the boats of class 143 both guns could be directed and fired from the artillery-targetting-system OGR-7/3. In praxis, however, they were directed by the artillery-command-console (Artilleriekommandogerät, (AKG) in the Ops-room. After the OGR 7/3 was removed this was the only way to direct the guns.
On the boats of class 143 A the gun was only controlled by the artillery-command-console (Artilleriekommandogerät, AKG) in the Ops-room tasking sensor-data from the firecontrolradar and from the multisensorplatform (MSP-500) into account.
Heavy MG M 2 QCB
On the boats of classes 143 and 143 A two heavy machine-guns M2 QCB (also known as Browning M 2 or MG 50-1) could be mounted on fixed carriages on the B-deck as defence against asymmetric threats.
The MG had a calibre of 12,7 mm x 99. The cadence was 450 to 635 rounds/minute. The battlerange was at up to 1.850 m.
Heavy MG on S76 "Frettchen" in Firing Position - Picture: V. Groth
Belted Ammunition of the Browning - Picture: T. Kunzmann
Handheld Firearms
On board of the S-boats classes 140, 141, and 142 originally there were four pistols P 1 (P 38) and a carbine K 98 for the guards. The latter also was serving to destroy drifting mines.
Until the middle of the 1960es the carbine K98 was substituted by the the rifle G 3. For the kommanding officer a small-calibre pistol Walther PPK was available. Furthermore the machinepistol MP 2 (UZI) and a machinegun MG 3 (first still in the version MG 42) came on bord. These arms as well as the corresponding ammunition were kept in the forward ammunition-compartment (Abt. VIII).
Until their decommissioning on board of the S-boats classes 140, 142, and 142 had available the following handheld arms:
| 4 | Pistols Walther P 38 (P 1) |
| 1 | Pistol Walther PPK |
| 2 | Machinepistols MP 2 (UZI) |
| 4 | Rifles G 3 |
| 2 | MG 2 |
| 2 | Signalpistols |
On board of the boaty class 148 were the fiollowing handheld arms:
| 4 | Pistols Walther P 38 (P 1) |
| 1 | Pistol Walther PPK |
| 4 | Rifles G 3 |
| 2 | Machinguns MG 2 |
| 2 | Signalpistols |
On the boats of classes 143 and 143 A the fiollowing handheld arms were available:
| 4 | Pistols Walther P 38 (P 1) |
| 1 | Pistol Walther PPK |
| 4 | Rifles G 3 |
| 2 | Signalpistols |
The boats of classes 143 and 143 A later on received two fixed mounted carriages for two heavy machineguns M 2 QCB (Browning).
Artillery-Firecontrol
Artillery-Aimingpillar SE-40
Until the artillery-firecontrol-system OGR 7/2 came on board in the midle of the 60es, the boats classes 140, 141, and 142 utilized the arttillery-aimingpillar SE-40.
Artillery-Aimingpillar SE-40 on S-"Löwe" - Picture: Archives K. Scheuch
This aimingpillar consisted of a horizontally turnable middlepillar, which was changeable in hight to correspond with the height of the gunner.
On an arm changeable in its height by swiwl arms on the sides of the middlepillar an optical NIFE Reflex sight could be fixed for firing, by help of which the gunner coud take aim at the target. On the vertical swiwel arms weights were fixed to make turning the pillar easier. The gunner was strapped to the pillar standing upright and had to aim at the target with the crosshair, taking into account a leading angle because of enemy speed and position angle.
Artillery Aimingpillar
SE 40 - Picture: Archives D. Lass
The movements of the gunner were transmitted by the
synchros of the aimingpillar to the synchros in the directing machines of the
guns so that the guns in remote control moved synchronously with the aimíngpillar. The parallax error which was existing because of the
positions of the guns was taken into account so that the bullets
would hit the target. 
Aimingpillar SE-40 on S-"Wiesel" - picture: Archivees T. Kunzmann
Turning movements of the boat and efects of the seastate had to be compensated by the gunner.
Artillery Aimingpillar OGR-7
With the aimingpillar OGR-7 one or two guns could be directed simultaneously against surface- and airtargets.
The OGR-7 had a hydraulic drive and was controlled by a joystick in azimuth and elevation. She was stabilized by three gyros. Two gyros compensated the influence of the seastate on the boat. The third gyro compensated turning movements of the boat.
The optical artillery-aimingpillars OGR-7 were produced by company Officine Galileo at Florence.
Announcement by Company Officine Galileo
OGR 7/1
On the boats of the Minewarfare Flotilla the artillery-aimingpillars OGR 7/1 were employed, which were slightly
different from the OGR-7/2 aimingpillars on the "Jaguar"-boats.
OGR-7 on MH-Boat
"Weilheim" ain the Mariniemuseum- Picture: T. Kunzmann
While
on the OGR-7/1 on "Weilheim" the rotary switch
"Magazinwahl" (magazine-selection) with the positions "Links"
(left) and
"Rechts" (right) is found in the left upper part of the
settings- and displaypannel, this switch is not available in OGR7/2 or OGR
7/3. Next to the right hand side of the switch the rotary switch "Zündereinstellung"
(detonator-selection) with the positions "Aus" (off),
"Zerlegen" (destruct), and "Spreng" (detonate) was placed. Beneath them on the left side knobs for gun 1 start and halt and
gun 2 start and halt were situated, to the right of them the turning
switches for target speed and changing point and the corresponding
display. Left upper Part of the OGR-7/1
om "Weilheim" - Picture: T. Kunzmann OGR 7/2
Since
the middlle of the 60es the OGR-7/2 was the standard-aimingpillar on
the S-boats of the Bundesmarine. An exemption were the boats of
class 148 which had French aiming pillars. On the OGR-7/2 of the „Jaguar“-boats
to the left the switch for taking over remote control by the aimingpillar
is found with the trigger for the alarm-signal in the guns. To the right
thereof was the switch for the firing-choise with the positions „Aus“
(off) – „Geschütz 1“ (gun 1) – „Geschütz 2“ (gun 2) - „Geschütz
1+2“ (gun 1+2). Underneath are the switches for „Start“- and
„Halt“-orders for both guns and to the right thereof the knobs ti
insert target speed and changing point for airtargets and the
corresponding display. Left Hand Input- and
Display-Pannel - Picture: Archives K. Scheuch
Restored OGR-7/2 of S-"Kranich" in the Stock of Marinemuseum - Picture: Archives K. Scheuch
I the right upper part of the input- and displaypannel the main-switch to turn on or off the aimingpillar was situated. Close to the input-buttons and display for position angle and speed of the target to engage were placed. Above them was the dial for airtarget or surfacetarget which changed the input for the display. Enlargement of the target and different filters for day, night, fog, and contre-jour were available.
A target detected by radar could be indicated by a sign in the optical device. The gunner thus could aim at the radartarget with the crosshair. This function was used at night and under poor visibility.
Right Hand Input- and Display-Pannel - Picture: Archives K. Scheuch
In the middle of the upper input- and displaypannel the oculars of the aiming-gear were placed with a head-rest. Below it the display of the train-angle of the aimingpillar was situated.
Oculars, below it the Display Train-Angle - Picture: Archives K. Scheuch
In the left lower part of the inputpannel were the dials for gun 1 and gun 2 each with the indication for ready, train, and elevation. To the right there were nine indication-lights to show the functioning of electric support of the aimingpillar. In the middle was the indication for overtax of the motor. In the right lower part was a dial for an "alert-alarm" and two dials for the aimingpillar.
The remote controlled guns could be directed in the right direction with the left pedal and fired with the right pedal.
Artillery-Aimingpillar OGR-7/3
On the boats of class 143 aimingplillars OGR-7/3 to control both guns 76 mm OTO Melara with a plastic-cupola were installed on the B-deck behind the mast. In practice the guns were directed by the Artillery-Control-Console in the Ops-room.
OGR-7/3 on "S 62" - Picture: Archives L. Brügge
The input-devices and the display were similar to those of the OGR 7/2.
Artillery-Aimingpillar Askania-76 DMQ A
On the boats of class 148 two elevated platforms were available for the aimingpillars Askania-76 DMQ on the B-deck behind the open bridge.
Platforms for the Artillery-Aimingpillars - Picture: Extract of Shipsdrawing Franz Mrva
Artillery-AimingpillarAskania-76 DMQ A -Picture: Archives B. Brackert
With the two Askania-76 Artillery-Aimingpillars the gun 76mm OTO Malara on the forecastle as well as the gun Bofors 40mm/L70 Mod-71 could be controlled. In practice, however, the guns were controlled by the artillery-command-console (Artillerie-Kommando-Gerät , AKG) of the POLLUX-firecontrol system of the French company Thomson CSF in the ops-room.
In the early 80es the POLLUX-firecontrolsystems were removed and the boat were retrofitted with CASTOR-firecontrol systems. The artillery-aimingpillars Askania-76 were removed in order to minimize topweight of the boats. Remote control of the guns was performed by the artillery-command-console (Artilleriekommandiogerät, AKG) of the CASTOR-firecontrol-system. The 40mm guns could be controlled in close control by the gunner in the mount.
Firecontrol by the Ops-Room
After installation of the firecontrolsystem WM-20 of the Netherlands company Hollandse Sigaalapparaten (HSA) on the boats of class 142 mod. the new guns directable by radar 40mm/L70 MEL DSTY 58 were as standard procedure controlled by the artillery-control-console (Artillerie-Kommandogerät, AKG) of the firecontrolsytem.
On the boats of class 148 firecontrol for the guns OTO Melara 76mm(L62 and Bofors 40mm/L70 Mod.71 was conducted using the display of the POLLUX-firecontrolsystem and later of the artillery-command-console (Artillerie-Kommandogerät, (AKG) of the CASTOR-firecontrolsystem.
Ops-Room on a S-Boat Class 148 - Picture: M. Rode
On the boats of class 143 firecontrol was conducted for both guns OTO Melara 76mm/L62 with the artillery-control-console (Artillerie-Kommandogerät, AKG) of AGIS and the firecontrol-radar of the WM-27.
In Front, partlyhidden the AKG, to the left the two TKGs on aS-Boat Class 143 - Picture: O. Rahardt
On the boats of class 143 A firecontrol for the gun OTO Melara 76mm/L62 was performed using the artillery-control-console (Artillerie-Kommandogerät, AKG) and firecontrolradar of the WM-27 as well as the Multisensorplatform MSP-500.
AKG and MSP-500 on S71 "Gepard" - Picture: U. Skrzypski